TidBITS#179/07-Jun-93
=====================
Two new PowerBooks and some volume software pricing deals blossom
a week early on the Apple tree, followed by an excellent article
on those pesky hardware handshaking cables that you need for
fast modems. We also review Peirce Software's Smoothie, and
provide bits about Retrospect A/UX, MacIntercomm, QuickTime 1.6
bugs, and phone line oddities. Finally, an announcement of the
book I'm working on about connecting to the Internet from
a Macintosh.
Copyright 1990-1993 Adam & Tonya Engst. Non-profit, non-commercial
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Topics:
MailBITS/07-Jun-93
The Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh
New PowerBooks Ship
Apple Volume Software Licenses
Cable Conundrums
Smoothie With A Capital SMOO
Reviews/07-Jun-93
[Archived as /info-mac/per/tb/tidbits-179.etx; 29K]
MailBITS/07-Jun-93
------------------
Sigh. It turns out that the Post Office added another ZIP code to
our area shortly before we moved. Of course, no one told us about
this, and we didn't notice right away. If you have our address in
a database, the correct ZIP code is 98056. Sorry for the trouble.
**Retrospect A/UX**, which is almost identical to Retrospect 2.0
but includes full support for both Unix and Macintosh file
systems, was announced recently by Dantz Development. Retrospect
A/UX requires Apple's A/UX 3.0.1 and should be available in early
June. Dantz Development -- 510/849-0293 -- 510/849-1708 (fax) --
DANTZ@applelink.apple.com
**The highlight** of the annual Computer Bowl occurred when Bill
Gates, who was a judge, posed the following question to the
contestants:
"What contest, held via Usenet, is dedicated to examples of weird,
obscure, bizarre, and really bad programming?"
After a moment of silence, Jean-Louis Gassee (ex-honcho at Apple)
hit his buzzer and answered "Windows."
Mr. Bill's expression was, in the words of one who was there,
"classic."
**Modem Follies** -- A number of people wrote in about Mark
Anbinder's article in TidBITS #176_ concerning a strange line
noise problem. It seems that this problem was big news in
Australia some time back, as Ian MacColl
reported, and some of the theories there included some phones
drawing too much power from the line, a capacitor charging to
maintain stored numbers, or the affected phones reporting to their
superiors at Telecom Australia Headquarters (a popular choice,
since the problem was cyclical).
Ed Segall proposed an alternate
theory based on a problem he had and solved. Apparently, if the
phone creates Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), the RFI can
wreak havoc on modem connections. Ed said the simplest solution
(short of buying a new phone) is a $20 AT&T Radio Frequency
filter.
John Harkin had the best sounding theory, suggesting
that the problem is caused by "the nonlinearities of the input
impedances caused by cheap transformers." I don't know what it
means, but I like the sound of it.
**MacIntercomm** and MacIntercomm Lite, originally developed by
Mercury Computing, have been acquired by New World Computing
(NWC). MacIntercomm is best known for its ability to transfer
files at full speed in the background no matter what the
foreground process. NWC -- 818/999-0607 -- help@inter.com --
intercomm@aol.com
**QuickTime 1.6 bugs** are popping up all over. Jon Pugh
reported on Info-Mac that he isolated a conflict
between QuickTime 1.6 and Now Toolbox 4.0.1p that caused problems
when resolving an alias that mounts a network volume. In addition,
two companies that I beta test for have mentioned that QuickTime
1.6 conflicts with the latest betas of their software (and no, I'm
not going to say who since it's not shipping software). Beware.
The Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh
--------------------------------------
It's time to let the electronic cat out of the proverbial bag. I'm
writing my first book, although after 4.3 MB of TidBITS I suppose
it's not quite a novel concept. As you may have guessed from the
title above, the book is specifically aimed at providing
information on how to find, set up, and use an Internet connection
from a Macintosh without bogging down in Unix details or network
protocols. To that end, the book will come with a free disk of
informational files and the free and shareware Mac software that
you need on the net. Along the way I hope to answer all those
nagging questions about sending email to and from the commercial
services, where to get what sort of feeds, and that kind of thing.
And, of course, I want to write about the neatest Internet
services (making sure to cover all the Macintosh services
especially), and that's where I could use some help. If you come
across something truly neat or weird, like an Internet horoscope
server, or a way of telnetting to your inner child, please drop me
a line.
However, I ask that you please don't send me email asking
questions like where you can get a feed in Cleveland (well,
probably the FreeNet there) or how to set up MacTCP. As time
permits, I do try to answer questions in public forums like Info-
Mac or comp.sys.mac.comm on Usenet if more qualified people don't
step forward.
The book should be available this fall from Hayden, although I
hope to excerpt parts of it in TidBITS before then. I'll let you
all know when it's available, and we should of course have special
pricing for TidBITS readers. In addition, I'm looking into
different ways that the book can become an electronic resource for
the Internet community.
In the meantime, if you can't wait to buy a book about the
Internet, I recommend Ed Krol's "The Whole Internet Users's Guide
and Catalog" from O'Reilly & Associates (ISBN: 1-56592-025-2). Ed
covers the technical details of how the Internet works and
explores the necessary Unix programs like mail, nn, telnet, and
FTP in great detail, all while retaining a light and readable
style. I discovered much good information in those sections
because I learned Unix by osmosis, which seldom provides a
complete education. Ed also lists a whole slew of Internet
services toward the end of the book - there's certain to be
something of interest to everyone. However, the book's strength is
also its weakness - because "The Whole Internet User's Guide and
Catalog" is an unparalleled guide to the Unix programs in use on
the Internet, it fails to provide the platform-specific
information a Macintosh user would want, both in terms of software
to use and resources to check out (it doesn't even mention
TidBITS!). There's nothing that says if you use the Internet you
have to use Unix when a Mac serves as well, if not better, for
many people. So that's my bias, and I'm writing a book about
it. :-) "The Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog" lists for
$24.95 and should be readily available from your local bookstore.
You can also send email to for comments or
suggestions on Ed's book.
New PowerBooks Ship
-------------------
by Mark H. Anbinder, News Editor -- mha@baka.ithaca.ny.us
Technical Support Coordinator, BAKA Computers
Apple today surprised the world by introducing two PowerBook
models a full week earlier than had been expected (see TidBITS
#174_). The new models mark the low and the high end, with a
budget-priced PowerBook 145B and an active-matrix-color PowerBook
180c.
As we described in past issues (TidBITS #167_, #168_, and #174_),
even though we had the name wrong early on, the PowerBook 180c is
an active-matrix color version of the PowerBook 180. The active
matrix LCD panel on the 180c stands out dramatically when viewed
next to a 165c (Apple's previous color offering) and lives up to
the expectations of brighter images and wider viewing angles. In
addition, the 180c's display is a 640 x 480 pixel unit, making it
80 pixels taller than the displays on previous PowerBooks. The
180c comes in three configurations ranging in price from $4,159 to
$4,769.
The cost-conscious crowd will prefer the PowerBook 145B, a lower-
price ($1,649-$1,899 retail - watch those street prices!) version
of the PowerBook 145. This reduces the entry-level price for a
PowerBook by about 25 percent, thanks to economizing measures
taken by Apple's engineers and marketing folks. As we reported in
TidBITS #174_, the 145B ships without system disks (which can be
requested from Apple should they be needed) and without a
microphone (though the sound input port is there, and you can add
a microphone). The engineers also crammed 4 MB onto the logic
board instead of the previous 2 MB, so the standard 4 MB version
no longer requires them to ship a 2 MB expansion card in each
unit.
We're not sure we like the idea of a Macintosh shipping without
system disks, but that has been the case with the Performas for
almost a year, and apparently it works for most users. Since the
vast majority of purchasers will never request a set of system
disks, Apple will undoubtedly save quite a bit of money, thereby
making the low purchase price of the 145B possible.
More news for PowerBook owners
Apple today introduced PowerBook File Assistant, a collection of
features (sort of a little cousin for Connectix PowerBook
Utilities) that includes file synchronization, deferred printing,
and backlight dimming, among other things. The software will ship
later this summer for $79. We'll have more information on
PowerBook File Assistant once we've seen it.
Information from:
Apple propaganda
Apple Volume Software Licenses
------------------------------
by Mark H. Anbinder, News Editor -- mha@baka.ithaca.ny.us
Even more exciting (to some) than today's hardware introductions
is Apple's announcement of the long-awaited Software Volume
Licensing Program, enabling companies and other organizations
needing multiple copies of Apple software to purchase them
economically and efficiently.
Starting today, products available for volume licensing are System
7.1 upgrades, Macintosh PC Exchange, At Ease, Apple Font Pack,
AppleTalk Remote Access (ARA) Client, Data Access Language (DAL)
Client, TCP/IP Connection for Macintosh, MacX, SNA-ps 3270, and
SNA-ps 3270 GC. Apple says that they plan to add more products to
the list over time.
The program includes tiered volume pricing based on the number of
computers licensed per product, with a flat price within each
tier. Apple's "up and running" toll-free technical support (within
the U.S.) is included with each license acquisition, and special
introductory pricing will be available as a promotional kick-off
for the program.
To make updates easier, Apple is offering the Apple Software
Maintenance Program to licensees with fifty or more computers.
This yearly subscription "will provide updates, upgrades, bug
fixes, modifications, and/or software enhancements," and will be
available for all above products except the Apple Font Pack.
All authorized Apple resellers may participate, so contact yours
for information. Education and state and local government
purchasers should contact their Apple sales rep directly. As an
interesting twist, U.S. customers may acquire volume licenses for
site locations outside the U.S., though we suspect that certain
export restrictions, mandated by the State Department, will still
apply.
Information from:
Apple propaganda
Cable Conundrums
----------------
by Maury Markowitz, SoftArc -- maury@magic-bbs.corp.apple.com
I draw attention to the article on high speed modems in TidBITS
#163_.
> Incidentally, you need a special hardware handshaking cable for
> these modems to reach their true potential. This is something of a
> non-issue, since both companies bundle hardware handshaking cables
> with their Mac packages, but if your modem comes without one of
> those cables, you'll have to buy one separately (from the modem
> companies or from MacConnection) for about $15.
Although it is true that both of these modems (the Practical
Peripherals PM14400FXSA and Supra's SupraFAXModem v.32bis) ship
with a hardware handshaking cable, we've found that these cables
and the vast majority of "hardware handshaking" cables shipped for
Mac owners are missing a single - but perhaps critical - pin. The
pin I refer to is the infamous "GPi" pin, or "Pin 7," on your
Macintosh. Apple defined this pin as a general purpose input
(hence the name) but left it disconnected on a variety of low-end
machines. The list of Macs that support this pin is, as far as I
know, the SE, SE/30, II, IIx, IIcx, IIci, Quadra 700, 800, 900,
950, and importantly, the LC III. None of the low-end Macs like
the Plus, Classic, Classic II, Color Classic, LC, or LC II support
GPi, and _some_ models of the IIsi support the pin, whereas others
don't, seemingly at random. I don't know about the IIvi, IIvx, or
Centris machines yet.
The problem originates because the Mac serial port has too few
pins for a full RS-232C implementation. Of the 25 pins defined for
the RS-232C standard, only the following are needed when talking
to smart devices like modems.
Input RD
Output TD
Input Handshake CTS
Output Handshake RTS
Hang up DTR
Carrier Detect CD
Ring Detect RI optional, you can do this in software
Ground
Note especially the Handshaking and Carrier Detect
requirements.
It looks like you need only seven pins for a fairly good port, so
the Mac should work fine, right? Well, keep in mind that Mac
serial ports double as super high-speed RS-422 ports, and some of
the pins are used to support this.
In fact, the average Mac only guarantees five pins (perhaps six)
that can be used, so in order to support RS-232, the modem cable
has to shoehorn the _required_ RS-232C pins into the smaller Mac
connector. Here's a list of the available pins and their
functions, along with their expanded names in case you weren't
sure what HSKi, HSKo, etc. stand for.
Mac function Mac name RS RS name
------------ --------- -- -------
RxD receive data RD receive data
TxD transmit data TD transmit data
Ground ground ground
HSKi handshake in CTS clear to send
HSKo handshake out RTS request to send
GPi gen purpose CD carrier detect
In the past, it was easy to make a cable. Input and Output
handshaking were not required for 2,400 bps operation, and Carrier
Detect (CD) and Ring (RI) were rarely connected. The resulting
cable looked like this.
Mac function RS-232 function Mac pin DB-25 pin
------------ --------------- ------- ---------
RxD (receive) Receive Data 5 3
TxD (transmit) Transmit Data 3 2
Ground Ground 4 & 8 7
HSKo DTR 1 20
This works well for most 2,400 bps applications. However, a few
systems required Carrier Detect support in the cable as well,
since there is no easy way to support Carrier Detect through
software. Users have no major trouble, if the modem fails to hang
up the phone, you just turn it off, but a BBS or ARA server has no
such ability. You can look for RING in software (because RING can
only come in when there is no one on the modem) but you can't look
for NO CARRIER in software (because it could appear at any time in
the serial stream). A number of programs required another cable
with a slight modification for Carrier Detect.
Mac function RS-232 function Mac pin DB-25 pin
------------ --------------- ------- ---------
RxD (receive) Receive Data 5 3
TxD (transmit) Transmit Data 3 2
Ground Ground 4 & 8 7
HSKo DTR 1 20
HSKi CD 2 8
You can see the problem - both of the Mac handshaking pins (HSKo
and HSKi) are already used, for DTR hang-up and Carrier Detect!
These cables prevent using high speed modems at their full
potential, something that the manufacturers didn't have to worry
about at that time, because the handshaking pins are not needed
for low speed. After a few years of this, the most common type of
cable is the first of the two listed above, cables that are
guaranteed to lead to confusion if you attempt to use them with
any high speed modem! Worse, a number of these cables, the ones
built for a BBS (the second of the two listed above), simply will
NOT work with high speed modems because of a conflict between the
need for handshaking and for Carrier Detect.
In these days of high speed modems, the problems for the BBS
operator are compounded. Older cables supporting Carrier Detect no
longer work with faster modems. The solution for these high speed
modems was a new "standard" cable layout.
Mac function RS-232 function Mac pin DB-25 pin
------------ --------------- ------- ---------
RxD (receive) Receive Data 5 3
TxD (transmit) Transmit Data 3 2
Ground Ground 4 & 8 7
HSKi CTS 1 5
HSKo RTS & DTR 2 4 & 20
GPi CD 7 8
The above layout sports all the same functions as the older
cables, and also supports Carrier Detect. The problem is that only
the upscale Macs support the GPi pin, so the vast majority of
cable manufacturers simply leave off pin 7, and this includes both
modems described in the TidBITS review, the PPI and the Supra (at
least when we tested them a few months back). Once again all the
BBS and ARA operators have been left out in the cold because
Carrier Detect is on the GPi pin. Oddly enough, the above cable
works with all modems, high or "low" speed, but many modem
manufacturers still produce the two varieties of cables, muddying
the waters further when they end up at stores where the
salesthings seldom know the difference. Recently a friend of mine
attempted to buy a "high speed Mac modem cable" from a local
computer store and was given the old 2,400 bps pin-out cable. Be
warned. [Cables from Celestin Company (800/835-5514 -- 206/385-
3767 -- 206/385-3586 (fax) -- celestin@netcom.com) do support the
GPi pin properly -Adam]
As I see it, any effort on the part of us Mac users may help in
the long run. A simple email or fax to the manufacturers of
improper cables goes a long way. If the majority of the modem
makers switched to the newer cables, perhaps the problem would
disappear in time. If you run a BBS, or are thinking about it,
check your cables carefully; odds are they don't support Carrier
Detect, leaving you hunting around for a cable that does.
The problem is so bad that late last year we at SoftArc simply
started to give out correct cables with all purchases of
FirstClass. Believe it or not, it costs us a lot less to give away
the cable with our program than it is to support the problems that
arise when they attempt to use the cables they have. One common
support question here can be solved almost instantly...
"My modem doesn't hang up when someone with the VT-100 interface
hangs up the phone," states the customer,
"Switch over to the cable you found in the box and all with be
fine," is my programmed reply.
One sad fact remains, even the cable outlined above still doesn't
have enough pins. The DTR pin in RS-232C is typically used to
quickly hang up the phone, saving you some small amount on a long
distance call. In order to support DTR it is cross-wired over to
the Output Handshake pin on the Mac, the HSKo. The Mac pulls this
pin when the modem is going too fast for the Mac, something that
rarely happens with current modems. Unfortunately, v.fast (v.34)
looms on the horizon, and some Macs can't run over 9,600 bps, so
some setups may require this pin. If this is the case, you'll have
to turn off DTR hang-up in your modem (typically by adding &D0 to
your modem initialization string) and use it for handshaking
instead. You'll note that the wiring above allows this single
cable to support either function from the same pin.
Information on the pin-outs, and speed limitations of the Mac
serial ports can be found in the Knowledge Base area on our
SoftArc Online BBS at 416/609-2250. If there is enough interest, I
can post them as a FAQ as well.
Smoothie With A Capital SMOO
----------------------------
I'm beginning to like one-trick ponies. I like Toner Tuner, which
lets you reduce the amount of toner or ink or ribbon you use when
printing, and although I personally don't have much use for it, I
think those of you who do presentations will like Smoothie, from
Peirce Software. As its name implies, Smoothie has but one task in
life - to smooth the edges of onscreen images. Smoothie
accomplishes this with software anti-aliasing, the technique of
filling in the steps in the jagged edges with intermediate colors
so it appears smoother.
Needless to say, if you're planning to print something out on a
high-quality printer, you won't want to use Smoothie since the
printer will take care of smoothing for you. Also, if you're
working on a draft, there's no need to waste time and disk space
using Smoothie. But, if you want to give a presentation with
class, you might think about using Smoothie to clean up the jagged
edges.
Smoothie works only on object-oriented PICT images. You start a
new Smoothie document, import a jagged graphic via the clipboard,
the Import PICT command, or by subscribing to a PICT edition,
check some settings, and then click the Go button. Once Smoothie
has smoothed the image, you can switch back and forth between the
original and the result to see how well Smoothie has done. At that
point you can export the file as a bitmapped PICT, as a one-frame
QuickTime movie (for inserting into a multiple-frame QuickTime
movie as a title or other static graphic), or save it in
Smoothie's native format. You can also copy the image to the
clipboard or publish it . It's that simple.
Of course, there are a few settings to fool around with, so you
can adjust the number of colors to save, the scaling of the image,
the dithering, whether or not the image should be immediately
updated (both subscribed and published editions, which makes
working in several programs via Publish & Subscribe much easier),
and if you wish to use QuickTime compression. It was all quite
self-explanatory, and there is balloon help, although I always
find balloon help extremely sluggish and prone to freezing my
machine temporarily when I use it.
Now, if you're being properly critical, you'd say that this is all
fine and nice, but it sounds like a lot of work if you have a lot
of images. That's true, and to answer your objection I'd say that
Smoothie has a batch processing feature that lets you import a
Scrapbook file containing a bunch of images or a folder full of
PICTs, convert them in order, and then save the results out to
another Scrapbook file, a freely-redistributable Smoothie
SlideShow, or a QuickTime movie. The first and last are self-
explanatory, but a Smoothie SlideShow is just that, a self-running
slideshow application that you can configure for automatic or
manual advance and give to anyone.
Also, not having ever used a presentation program seriously, I
didn't realize this, but Smoothie creator Michael Peirce tells me
that a lot of Smoothie users like to export an entire presentation
from PowerPoint or Persuasion as a Scrapbook file and smooth it
all in Smoothie, exporting a Smoothie SlideShow. An advantage of
this method is that once you've smoothed the presentation, it's
all graphics, so you don't have to have the proper fonts installed
to get a nice-looking presentation. Presentations with major
jaggies are always so painful to watch, and it seems that machines
used for presentations never have the proper fonts installed.
Smoothie's manual is clean, clear, and explains why certain
options are useful rather than just mentioning that they exist, as
so many manuals do. Should you need additional help, Peirce
Software provides free technical support for registered users and
even maintains an Internet account for ever-useful email support.
Smoothie requires a color-capable Macintosh, and you'd be a fool
not to have a hard drive and a fair amount of RAM. It will run in
as little as 1 MB, but prefers lots more if possible. Software-
wise, you need System 7.0 or later (except for the Smoothie
SlideShows, which only require 6.0.2 or later along with Color
QuickDraw), and you need QuickTime if you wish to use it for
compression.
Smoothie 1.02 lists for $149, but most people will probably go the
mail order route, where it costs about $100 from MacZone and
possibly others as well. You can order direct from Peirce Software
for purchase orders and the like.
Smoothie 1.02
Peirce Software
719 Hibiscus Place
Suite 301
San Jose CA 95117
408/244-6554
408/244-6882 (fax)
peirce@outpost.sf-bay.org
Reviews/07-Jun-93
-----------------
* MacWEEK -- 31-May-93, Vol. 7, #22
ClarisWorks 2.0 -- pg. 35
AsanteHub 1012 with AsanteView -- pg. 35
LapTrack 1.0 -- pg. 38
Vocabulary Virtuoso 1.0 -- pg. 40
* MacUser -- Jun-93
addDepth and Adobe Dimensions -- pg. 46
4th Dimension 3.0.1 -- pg. 49
Now Up-to-Date 2.0 -- pg. 56
TimesTwo -- pg. 57
Painter 2.0 -- pg. 58
Theorist -- pg. 59
FileDuo and Fastback Plus 3.0 -- pg. 61
Project Scheduler 5 -- pg. 65
Peachtree Accounting for Macintosh -- pg. 72
Peace of Mind -- pg. 79
SafeLock -- pg. 79
Lemmings -- pg. 79
DragInstall -- pg. 80
7th Heaven -- pg. 80
Creative Writing Tools -- pg. 94
Collaborator II 2.01
Plots Unlimited 1.04
StoryLine 1.4
WritePro 2.1
LCD Panels and Projectors -- pg. 134
(too many to list)
Kodak RFS 2035 Scanner -- pg. 147
Windows for Macintosh Products -- pg. 171
SoftPC with Windows
OrangePC
* Macworld -- Jul-93
Double-Speed CD-ROM drives -- pg. 98
(too many to list)
Desktop Calendars -- pg. 104
(too many to list)
LocalTalk to Ethernet Routers -- pg. 110
(too many to list)
Macintosh LC III -- pg. 134
Fractal Design Painter 2.0 -- pg. 136
PrintPartner 10W -- pg. 138
Apple Color OneScanner; Ofoto 2.0 -- pg. 140
7th Heaven 2.5 -- pg. 146
MacWrite Pro -- pg. 148
Apple Adjustable Keyboard -- pg. 150
Macintosh PowerBook 165c -- pg. 152
Alias Sketch 1.5 -- pg. 158
VideoFusion 1.0.1 -- pg. 160
Blueprint 4.0 -- pg. 162
Virtus Walkthrough 1.1.3 -- pg. 164
BestBooks 1.1 -- pg. 166
Voyager II -- pg. 166
DynoPage 2.0 -- pg. 168
Billy Steinberg's PBTools 1.0.1 -- pg. 170
Wingz 1.1ae -- pg. 170
Helix Express 1.0 -- pg. 172
Alki Seek 2.1 -- pg. 172
Spyglass Dicer 2.0 -- pg. 174
Hi-Rez Audio Volume 1.0 -- pg. 174
FutureBASIC 1.0 -- pg. 176
PG:PRO 1.0 -- pg. 176
Object Logo Student Edition -- pg. 178
Decimal & Fraction Maze 1.2 -- pg. 178
Easy Color Paint 3.0 -- pg. 180
Millie's Math House -- pg. 180
..
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